A BOURNEMOUTH MP has ruled himself out of the race to find a new speaker of the House of Commons.

Sir John Butterfill, who represents Bournemouth West, said he had been asked if he would be interested in replacing Michael Martin but called it “a pig of a job”.

But bookmakers are still offering odds of between 20/1 and 33/1 on him changing his mind and going on to win the secret ballot.

Sir John, who will retire from politics at the next general election, said: “Somebody who shall remain nameless asked me but I said ‘probably not.’ “I think they need somebody who can see it all the way through.

“I think it will be a pig of a job, it will not be easy because it’s going to be very highly scrutinised and, probably, a lot of it controversial.”

Mr Martin became the first Commons speaker to be effectively forced out of office for 300 years when he announced he was stepping down.

He will relinquish office on June 21, with his successor chosen the following day.

Sir John said he would favour Liberal Democrat Sir Alan Beith or Conservative Sir George Young for the position, although he acknowledged that Sir George’s Eton and Oxford background could go against him.

“I think Sir Alan Haselhurst actually deserves it because he’s been the deputy for a very long time. Although he’s quite comfortably off, he’s very hard-working and reliable,” he said.

“We want somebody who’s going to restore a bit of dignity to the place.

“Whoever gets it and whatever they will do, they’re going to be under the most incredible scrutiny.”

Get the whole story behind the expenses row at bournemouthecho.co.uk/expenses where you can compare Sir John Butterfill's travel expenses with other local MPs.